Switch mechanism



June' 4, 1929. MULLER 1,715,716

SWITCH MECHANISM Filed July 27, 1927 nyz.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR M BY AT'TORNEY Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT MULLER, F BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

swrron MECHANISM.

Application filed July 27, 1927, Serial No. 208,762, and in Germany August 30, 1926.

My invention relates to switch mechanism and particularly to switch mechanisms ofthe truck type.

Heretofore it has been the general practice in the construction of switch mechanisms of this type tov provide a stationary structure having bus bars and contact members for the bus bars disposed therein and a movable structure comprising a circuit breaker and contact members for engaging the contact members disposed in the stationary structure. The movable structure is generally provided with wheels for cooperating with a track provided on the stationary structure so that in case of fault, the movable structure can be replaced by a reserve structure. 7 This construction is undesirable in view of the necessity of having to replace the movable structure when only one of the contact members isdefective, such repairs being diflicult'because of the space which the partially removed structure occupies.

It is an object of my invention to provide a switch mechanism of this type to overcome this undesirable feature by so mounting the movable structure that it can turn on a movable frame and thereby render access to the contact members disposed thereon.

It is another object of my invention to provide a switch mechanism comprising a stationary structure provided with contact members and having a track disposed thereon, and a movablestructure mounted on the track having a circuit breaker and contact members for engaging the contact members on the stationary structure, with means for rendering possible access to the contact members without completely separating the structures.

These and other objects that may be made apparent throughout the further description of my invention are attained by means of the apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where a circuit breaker and contact members for engaging the contact members in the stationary structure. The movable structure is adapted to move horizontally with respect to the track and a means is provided for turning the movable structure about its vertical axis.

My invention is best understood by referring to the drawings, wherein I provide a stationary structure 11 comprising b'us bars 12, contact terminals 13 for the bus bars, and a track 14. A movable structure 15 is mounted on a truck 16, the truck being provided with wheels 20 for facilitating movement of the structure 15 toward or away from the stationary structure 11. The structure 15 carries circuit breaker 17 and contact members 18 for engaging the contact members 13 in the stationar structure 11, and is provided with a turn-ta le structure 19 for permitting the structure 15 to turn about its vertical axis on the movable truck 16.

The structure 19 comprises a circular ball race 21 which is supported by the truck frame 16 which in turn supports the struc ture 15, which is provided with a ball race 22 that rests upon the balls 23 in the race 21.

IVhen it is desired to inspect or repair the contact members 18 disposed on the structure 15, the structure 15 is withdrawn from the stationary structure 11 by means of the wheels 20 cooperating with the track 14 until the contact members 18 are at a suitably safe distance from the corresponding contact members 13. The structure 15 is then turned about its vertical axis by the means 19 to the position shown by the broken lines in Fig. 2.

- Accordingly, it can be seen that I have provided a switch mechanism comprising two relative movable structures having cooperating contact members and means for turning one of the structures about its vertical axis and thereby rendering easy access to the terminal members for inspection and repair.

While I have illustrated and described but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A switch mechanism comprising a stationary structure having contact members therein, a laterally movable structure having contact membersthereon for engaging the tionary structure having contact members.

disposed therein and a traclg a movablestructure mounted on the track and hav ng contact members for engaging the contact members 1n the stationary structure, said mov- "tlonary structure having contact members able structure being adapted to move towards and away from thesta-tionary structure along the track and means for rotating the movable structure about its Vertical axis.

3. A switch mechanism comprising a stationary structure having 'co'ntactmembers disposed therein and a track, a movable structure'mounted on the track having contact members for engaging thecontact members in the stationary structure, and adapted to movetovvar'ds and awayfrom the stationary structure, along the track, and means for rotating the movable structure laterally with respect to the track. 7 V

4. A' switch mechanism comprising a sta-" tact members for engaging the contact mom-f bers on the stationary structure, the movable structure being adapted to move horizontally along the track and means for rotating the movable structure about its vertical axis.

5. A SWltCllmechanism comprising statherein and a' track, a movable structure mounted on the track comprlsinga c rcuit breaker and contact members for engaging the contact members in the stationary structure, the movable structure be ng adapted to move horizontally with respect to the track andto rotate about its vertical axis forvrendering' easy access to contact members disposed ALBERT MULLER. I

whereof ,1 1 have hereunto 

